Newsletter: 15/11/2010

Office news

We have had an experienced database engineer working for us on a short-term contract the last couple of weeks. Tim O'Brien is an experienced software developer with expertise in database tuning. He has been helping us improve the performance of the Fastbase application and websites. Having a fresh pair of eyes looking at things has been helpful for us, and you should see benefits in the form of a speedier Fastbase system soon.

Russell Bell

GST rate change for NZ

As expected, we have been busy supporting your various queries and issues during the first three weeks of the GST rate increase. We've helped with some GST reporting questions especially, changed some stationary layouts, and we've made a couple of software changes. For some more complex issues we have designed a temporary workaround where appropriate, using journals for example, until we've been able to design and develop a suitable software change. GST issues have become less frequent now, however we anticipate more questions on supplier goods credits for invoices prior to 1st October, and also linking your Fastbase GST report to your IRD GST return. Talk to Priscilla if you've any further questions, especially regards GST reporting.

New web server, websites and backup

We operate an external server for our customers, this hosts your websites and external backups. This server is hosted for us by a specialist third-party company. We commissioned a new server some months back, and have now migrated everyone onto to this new server. The new server is bigger and faster than the old one, I expect the performance of websites hosted with us should be better, noticeably so in some cases.

Order Number in emailed invoices

Invoices in Fastbase can be either printed or emailed. You can choose this when you print the invoice, ie. when you're saving a new invoice, maintaining an existing invoice, or viewing the transaction. Select Email PDF Document on the Print Invoice drop-down. Or you can set this up per-customer, under Preferences - Invoice Print Type).

We've changed Fastbase so that when a customer invoice is emailed, the Order Number of the invoice is included in the subject of the email. We've enabled this new behaviour by default, contact us if you want it disabled.

Newsletters

Select from the following list of newsletters that have been sent out.

28/11/2013 Office News, Quoting for items that aren't recorded as parts in Fastbase, Stream-lined entry of new part assembly transactions, Sorting of customer notes on the appointments screen, Maintaining a customer note - "Complete" button save and exit